Norfolk Schools Broadcasting Live on Exchange Radio FM

Twenty-one schools and youth organisations from around Norfolk broadcast hour-long programmes on Exchange Radio 87.7FM, based at Hospital Radio Norwich from Tuesday, March 23 to Thursday, March 25. This was Exchange Radio’s sixth spell on air.

A Year 6 group from White Woman Lane Junior School interviewed Chloe Smith Norwich North MP (pictured) live on air about her background and being an MP.

Richard Queensborough teacher at White Woman Lane Junior School said: “We have our own radio station. The programmes are recorded and loaded onto our website as podcasts. The students love it. They learn about DJing, presenting and interviewing. We work with Creative Partnerships and the BBC. It’s the second time they have interviewed Chloe Smith. It was a great opportunity for the students to interview her live on air at Exchange Radio.”

Chloe Smith MP said: “I was incredibly impressed by the skills of the White Woman Lane students. They produced a fabulous programme.”

John Paul Ringer, teacher at Antingham and Southrepps Primary School said: “This was our debut on Exchange Radio. I brought a group of Year 6 students (ages 10 and 11). The whole process of preparing material, editing interviews and doing the links live on air has been great for their self-confidence. We have just established a relationship with a school in Jordan and will be sending them a copy of our programme. We have enjoyed the process so much that we are going to research setting up our own radio station at school.”

Steve Sorrento teacher, Oriel High School, Gorleston said: “Exchange Radio has been an excellent opportunity for the students to experience a real studio where anything can happen!”

Diane Sutcliffe, Project Co-ordinator from The Exchange said: “Many of the students are very nervous when they arrive, but come out buzzing at the end of their broadcasts. It has been amazing to see the huge variety of subjects tackled by the schools. One student from Avenue Junior School wrote…’this is the best thing that I have ever done’…There has been a lot of enthusiasm for doing more radio. The Exchange even produced its own programmes this year featuring staff interviews about our work interspersed with ‘related’ music like ‘Let’s Work Together’ and ‘School’s Out for Summer’.”

Exchange Radio’s FM frequency broadcasted 15 miles around Norwich, but the radio station was also online at http://www.exchangeradio.co.uk.

The Exchange, http://www.norfolk-exchange.org.uk, tel: 01953 601439
The Exchange exists to support schools and businesses to work together in achieving effective partnerships.

Spring Fashions at Wroxham Barns Norfolk

The Gallery at Wroxham Barns has launched its Spring 2010 collections of clothes, jewellery, handbags and accessories featuring favourite brands like Alice Collins, Steilmann, Adini, Oscar B, Tulchan, Fransa, Slimma, VIZ-A-VIZ and Seasalt, the UK’s Top Ethical Fashion Company 2009. New for this season is the fair trade Nomads Clothing.

“Seasalt was a great success when we introduced the brand last year with its ethical, fashionable and vibrant ‘seasidey’ clothing, said Wendy Berg, Wroxham Barns Buyer. “So we are pleased to bring Nomads Clothing to The Gallery featuring fair trade clothes, produced in safe environments and inspired by the artisans of Rajasthan in India.”

Louise Collins, Joint Managing Director of Alice Collins (pictured), a regular at Wroxham Barns during Spring Fashion Week, which ran from 23 to 27 March said: “I really enjoy visiting the Barns; this is the third year that I have been here during Fashion Week. Alice Collins produces high quality, colourful, casual clothes with quirky details. The Gallery at Wroxham Barns, with its beautiful airy environment, is the perfect place to display our women’s clothes. The staff are all very helpful and friendly and get to know their customers. The Barns offers such a lovely experience with the restaurant just across from The Gallery.”

David and Jeannette Packham at Lads & Lasses, one of Wroxham Barns’ resident craft studios, specialising in children’s clothes from baby to age seven, stock Alice Collins children’s ranges, Little Josh and Little Alice. New for 2010 is their own Sugar and Spice brand, designed by the Packhams and made in Norwich. Tops and skirts and dresses for girls and dungarees for little boys, as well as fleeces for both boys and girls are currently available.

Paul and Toika Razzell of Capricorn Minerals & Jewellery, another of Wroxham Barns’ craft studios, hand pick all their jewellery and go for items that you would not find on the high street. This includes beaded necklaces and matching earings, which are handmade by Paul Razzell on the premises and a range of men’s silver jewellery.

Produced in Norfolk Farmers’ Market
Don’t miss the award winning Produced in Norfolk Farmers’ Market, which returns to Wroxham Barns on Saturday 10 April, 10am to 1pm. Pick up some of the county’s finest food – butter and milk, fresh beef, pork, pork pies and sausage rolls, honey and preserves, chutneys and pickles, spice kits, seasonal vegetables and homemade pies and new this year, Norfolk Kipper House selling crabs, lobsters, pastes, potted shrimps, crab cakes and wet North Sea fish, The market will be at Wroxham Barns on the second Saturday of the month until December, www.producedinnorfolk.com.

Wroxham Barns, tel. 01603 783762, http://www.wroxhambarns.co.uk/ is open daily 10am to 5pm (closed 25/26 December and 1 January). Free entry and free parking. Junior Farm admission charge £3.95 from age 3.

Raveningham Gardens Norfolk Open for 2010 Season

Raveningham Gardens opens for the 2010 season on Easter Sunday. This country house garden is the perfect place to enjoy a break from the stresses and strains of modern life.

There is much for visitors to enjoy in April, notably the new Time Garden (pictured), inspired by Francis Bacon’s Essay Of Gardens, contemporary garden sculpture, a working Victorian Kitchen Garden and conservatory that houses soft fruit and tender plants, the orchard and arboretum, lakeside walks and 14th century St Andrews Church.

Raveningham Gardens are open from Easter Sunday to the end of August, Monday to Friday 11am to 4pm and Bank Holiday Sundays and Mondays 2pm to 5pm. Homemade teas are available only on Bank Holiday Sundays and Mondays. Most of the gardens are accessible to visitors in wheelchairs. Admission is Adult £4, concessions £3.50 and children under 16 free. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Raveningham is 10 miles south of Norwich, signposted off A146 at Hales then off the B1136. Tel 01508 548152 (Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm), http://www.raveningham.com

Sir Nicholas Bacon said: “This is a place of peace and quietness – away from the rush of life – it is a place that has evolved with time to incorporate all that a Georgian garden always was with the workings of modern life, a garden that has kept its heart and integrity in a changing world, where you can see a working kitchen garden which still produces fruit and vegetables as it did for my ancestors.”

Exchange Radio 87.7FM Norfolk Youth Radio On Air – March 23 to 25

Exchange Radio 87.7FM, based at Hospital Radio Norwich and staffed by school students and youth organisations (ages 5 to 19), is on air from 9am to 8pm, Tuesday, March 23 to Thursday, March 25. This is Exchange Radio’s sixth spell on air.

The FM frequency broadcasts 15 miles around Norwich, but the radio station can be heard throughout Norfolk online at http://www.exchangeradio.co.uk/. Twenty-one schools and youth organisations from around the county are taking part.

Each school or youth organisation has an hour-long slot. The students plan and produce their own programmes and have the chance to broadcast live as well as use some pre-recorded material.

New this year is White Woman Lane Junior School, Norwich who will be interviewing Norwich North MP Chloe Smith live during their programme at 9am on Thursday, March 25.

Old hands, Barnham Broom Primary School (picture Ella Scharff and Robert Bull learning interview tecniques), whose Head Teacher, Keith Wright is a Hospital Radio Norwich volunteer, return at 10am on Monday, March 23 with an hour of music chosen by the students and parents along with news, weather and travel updates.

Oriel High School, Gorleston will have presenters in the studio at 10am on Wednesday, March 24 linking recorded items including Facebook – friend or foe, the impact that the images of women in magazines have on girls, the school’s scholarship scheme with Greshams School and recorded music and interviews from school bands.

Methwold High School presenters will also be linking a series of recorded items at 1pm on Wednesday, March 24, featuring an item on Methwold’s relationship with a school in Nairobi Kenya trailing a visit there in July, a comedy sketch, a history of the Olympics looking forward to 2012 and an interview with a member of staff about child soldiers.

Mike Sarre of Hospital Radio Norwich supervises the broadcast output and trains the young broadcasters in programme preparation, interviewing and recording techniques.

Diane Sutcliffe, Project Co-ordinator from The Exchange explained: “The content is entirely up to the schools and youth organisations. Some include poetry, music, interviews, drama or work to a specific theme. It is a very valuable experience as it improves confidence and self esteem, as well as developing the students’ range of enterprise learning e.g. creativity, using initiative, communication, innovation and team working.”

The Exchange, http://www.norfolk-exchange.org.uk/, tel: 01953 601439
The Exchange exists to support schools and businesses to work together in achieving effective partnerships.

Fifteenth Wymondham Music Festival Norfolk July 2010

The 15th annual Wymondham Music Festival, centred on Festival Fortnight, June 26 to July 11, but with events from the beginning of May, celebrates professional Norfolk musicians, combined with a selection of national artists and showcases local talent in this historic Norfolk market town.

There’s everything from a Steely Dan tribute band, to Jane Austen’s Musical England, opera, Indian classical music, folk, jazz, classical recitals and concerts and a Teddy Bears’ Picnic, accompanied by Brolly Folk playing jolly tunes for all ages.

More than 50 events, many of them free, are programmed to take place in a range of venues across the town. The 12th century Wymondham Abbey hosts several concerts and recitals including Norwich Baroque with Michael Chance (countertenor) and The Amphion Consort (June 5), The Art of Sound (June 30), Duo Contra (July 1), Wymondham Symphony Orchestra (July 10), Wymondham Youth Orchestra (July 3), a special Wymondham Young Pianists’ concert (July 5) and Tonally Different (July 6), a lunchtime recital featuring traditional British songs.

Open-air venues are well used. There’s the annual Midsummer Jazz Picnic at Becketswell featuring the DixieMix Jazz Band and the Theatre of Adventure (June 28). King’s Head Meadow hosts the Teddy Bears’ Picnic (July 4) and Browick Road Recreation Ground has a selection of local youth bands and up-and-coming DJs in Live ‘N’ Gigging (June 26). Hear popular Norwich musicians, The Rum Brothers (July 3) in The Market Place along with Chameleon a 1940s tribute band (July 8) and Wymondham High School Jazz Band (June 26). Ketts Park is the place for Steely Dan fans – an evening with Steemy Dan (July 10).

Folk concerts are at The Baptist Church – Horse’s Brawl (pictured)(July 2) and Stone Angel (July 3). Wymondham High School has Live Wire Opera Company (June 26) and Wymondham Youth Music Society (July 8). Fairland Church Centre hosts
Sulekh Ruparell, Eastern Music Company, for an evening of classical Indian music (July 9).

The festival heads out of town for an evening at Kimberley Hall with Consort Royal, as they explore Jane Austen’s Musical England (June 27). There’s also music and poetry with singer-songwriter Caomhe at Becket’s Chapel (July 6), plus the opportunity to explore the town with Blue Badge Guide Judy Hawkins (July 11).

Full festival programme details are at http://www.wymfestival.org.uk/, tel. 01953 601939. The festival brochure will be available at the beginning of May. Wymondham Music Festival is supported by Wymondham Town Council, South Norfolk Council and Norfolk County Council. For more information about Wymondham see http://www.wymondhamonline.co.uk/, or contact the Tourist Information Centre tel. 01953 604721.

John Wood, Chair, Wymondham Music Festival said: “Wymondham is a real musical hot bed. Our festival provides a wide range of music experiences, which promote fine Norfolk musicians, along with our many local music societies and musicians. We also showcase our historic market town and look forward to welcoming music fans of all ages and tastes to this beautiful part of Norfolk.”

Wymondham Music Festival (reg. charity no. 1081375) is run by a committee of volunteers who give their time to organise and administer the programme, and is supported by grants, advertising, sponsorship and the generosity of its patrons. The festival began in 1996 as a small series of concerts and was called Wymondham Music Week. It quickly expanded to become the festival that it is today, promoting the performance and appreciation of music, as well as offering music education for local people. The festival committee links up with many other local music organisations to promote events throughout the summer months.

De Vere Dunston Hall Variety Club Charity Golf Day and May Ball

De Vere Dunston Hall near Norwich is staging a Charity Golf Day and May Ball on Friday, May 14 in aid of the Variety Club’s Children’s Charity. The hotel is hoping to raise £10,000 from the event, part of the De Vere group’s national target of £500,000 for the charity.

Golfers are invited to enter teams of four for the golf day (£140 per team). The day begins with breakfast rolls at 11am, followed by 18 holes of golf with a Shotgun Start. There will be a Stableford Competition with prizes for the top six teams, plus additional prizes for nearest to the pin on all par threes and beat the pro on the 14th hole. Buffet meal and prize giving at the end of the afternoon.

The Variety Club May Ball kicks off with a champagne reception at 7.15pm, followed by a four-course dinner in the Sunningdale Suite, with dancing to Dynamite and an auction and raffle. Tickets for the ball cost £45 per person or £400 for a table of 10.

Golf professional, Richard Tidy, who is co-ordinating the event said: “It’s going to be a fantastic day at Dunston Hall. We will have a lot of fun and aim to raise £10,000 for the Variety Club at the same time. We have already had a lot of interest from our golf club members who have signed up for both the golf and May Ball, but still have tickets and places for both events.”

To book golf teams or purchase ball tickets contact Richard Tidy tel. 01508 473846, email richard.tidy@devere-hotels.com.

The Variety Club Children’s Charity, http://www.varietyclub.org.uk was founded in 1949 to help sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people. The charity has raised over £200 million in the last six decades, supporting more than one million children and young people. The Variety Club provides Sunshine Coaches, electric wheelchairs, days out, equipment for children’s hospitals and more.

For more information about De Vere Dunston Hall tel. 01508 470444 or visit
http://www.devere-hotels.com/our-hotels/dunston-hall

Norfolk The Great Outdoors at Easter

Bird watching, boating, walking, cycling, horseracing, river trips, gardens, lamb feeding, heritage railways and Easter Egg Trails – Norfolk is packed with great ideas for the Easter Holidays.

“We are looking forward to a very busy Easter in Norfolk,” said Lydia Smith, Director, Norfolk Tourism. “Our new Outdoor Norfolk Campaign, http://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/outdoors is encouraging visitors and local residents to get out and about in the county and go walking, boating, birdwatching, canoeing, cycling, fishing and horseriding at more than 100 locations, using public transport like the CoastHopper bus or The Bittern Line railway whenever possible. Norfolk with its endless skies is the place to enjoy the great outdoors.”

Here is a selection of Norfolk’s Easter offerings:
 The Veranda Resort Burnham Market International Horse Trials, Sussex Farm Burnham Market PE31 8JY, April 1 to April 3 http://www.musketeer.co.uk
 Explore the North Norfolk Coast and the Norfolk Coast Footpath using the CoastHopper bus http://www.coasthopper.co.uk.
 Ride The Bittern Line from Norwich to Sheringham and hop off at intermediate stations for a circular walk http://www.bitternline.com/walks2.htm.
 Visit RSPB Titchwell Marsh http://www.rspb.org.uk or Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Cley Marshes http://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk.
 Go cycling around Thetford Forest http://www.bike-art.com or The Norfolk Broads http://www.thebroadsbybike.org.uk.
 Visit Wretham Lodge, East Wretham and Desert World Gardens, Santon Downham, both gardens open in aid of the National Gardens Scheme on April 4 and 5, http://www.norfolkgardens.org.
 Enjoy racing on Easter Monday, April 5 at Great Yarmouth Racecourse, http://www.greatyarmouth-racecourse.co.uk and Fakenham Racecourse http://www.fakenhamracecourse.co.uk.
 Feed the lambs at Junior Farm Wroxham Barns http://www.wroxhambarns.co.uk and Snettisham Farm Park http://www.snettishampark.co.uk.
 Take a river trip in Norwich on City Boats http://www.cityboats.co.uk
 Join Easter Egg Trails at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, April 2 to 5, http://www.fairhavengarden.co.uk, Blickling Hall, April 4 and 5, Felbrigg Hall, April 4 and 5 and Oxburgh Hall, April 3 to 5 (all National Trust) http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk or take the Bure Valley Railway’s Easter Eggspress, April 2 to 5, http://www.bvrw.co.uk.
 Catch The King’s Morris dancing at Snettisham, Heacham and Thornham on April 5, tel. 01553 768930.

Indoor Ideas
 Visit Dragon Hall, Norwich’s magnificent medieval merchant’s trading hall http://www.dragonhall.org.
 Clive Webb and Danny Adams return to Great Yarmouth’s Hippodrome Circus with ‘Circus Hilarious, Keep Britain Laughing’, April 2 – 7, http://www.hippodromecircus.co.uk.
 Visit the exquisite Anderson Collection exhibition at The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich http://www.scva.ac.uk or Watercolour in Britain: Travelling with Colour at Norwich Castle Museum and Gallery, http://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk.